Man charged in Circle K, True North robberies

Walter E. Moody Jr., 46, of Elyria was charged with two counts of aggravated robbery, breaking and entering and theft about 2:15 p.m. Thursday at his home in the 400 block of Foster Avenue.

About 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said a man entered the Circle K at 515 N. Abbe Road wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt and jeans. The store clerk told police the man went up to the counter and asked for two packs of Newport cigarettes before he put his hand in his pocket. With his hand still in his pocket, the man told the clerk he had a gun, though he never actually showed one, according to Costantino.

The man told the clerk to hand over all of the money from the register and that he didn’t want to shoot the clerk, Costantino said.

The clerk told police the man took the money and left the store on foot, heading toward Bon Air Avenue, Costantino said.

Only a few hours after that robbery, police responded to True North, 905 Lorain Blvd., about 4:30 a.m. Thursday.

The clerk at True North told police a black man entered the store wearing a dark jacket and jeans, with his hand in his pocket. The man told the clerk he had a gun and she should hand over money from the register, according to Costantino.

“This is a lightweight robbery, give me the money,” The suspect said, according to a police report.

He left with the money and went on foot toward the apartments in the 500 block of Bell Avenue, Costantino said.

Costantino said both clerks gave similar descriptions of the suspect and in both incidents, the suspect had his hand in his pocket and said he had a gun but never showed one.

Moody was charged with the robberies Wednesday afternoon. He also was charged with breaking and entering in connection with a break-in at Marathon gas station, 803 W. River Road North, Dec. 9, and theft for allegedly stealing a car from the 100 block of Brunswick Avenue on Jan. 3.

He was being held without bond at Lorain County Jail and was to appear in Elyria Municipal Court this morning.